Real Life Zombies: How Parasites and Fungi Control Animal Minds

Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.What if “zombies” weren’t just fiction?In this Season 14 kickoff episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the real science behind “nature zombies”—organisms that can hijack behavior, manipulate brains, and turn animals into living tools for their own survival.From parasitic fungi to mind-altering parasites, this episode explores how evolution has produced some of the most disturbing—and fascinating—strategies in the natural world.🧠 How parasitic fungi infect insects and control their behavior down to the exact moment of death  🐜 The infamous zombie ant fungus (Ophiocordyceps) that forces ants to climb and die in precise locations for spore release  🦗 How hairworms manipulate insects into seeking water—something they would normally avoid—just to complete their life cycle  🐭 The parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which alters fear responses in rodents and may even influence human behavior  🦟 Cicada infections that turn insects into walking, mating, spore-spreading machinesThese aren’t just gross curiosities—they’re real examples of how parasites can alter nervous systems, change decision-making, and reshape behavior at a biological level. Support the show🎉 Support us on Patreon to keep the episodes coming! 🪼🦤🧠 For more laughs, catch us on YouTube!Track a real wild animal. Support conservation. Feel slightly cooler than you did five seconds ago. Visit the Fahlo tracking bracelets website to get 20% off tracking bracelets with code WildlyKaty.